Fishing rod holder

ABSTRACT

The fishing rod holder is configured for ease of access to any of a series of rods stored in the device while still providing compact storage for the rods. A support strut extends from a permanently mounted base, with spaced apart rod holding plates installed on the strut. A connecting tube secures the two plates together rotationally about the strut. Each plate includes a series of rod holding passages therethrough, with the passages of one plate having peripheral slots for the lateral insertion of the rods. The slotted passages have resilient slotted discs placed therein to grip the rods placed therein. The device may be rotated to position any of the rods as desired for ease of removal, or to position an open pair of passages for the placement of a rod therein. The rotary plate and strut assembly may be removed from the base for secure storage when necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to racks, brackets and other devices for holding elongate articles. More specifically, the present invention is a fishing rod holder for rotatably supporting a plurality of fishing rods on or in a boat, garage, or other structure and that can be mounted to support the rods in either a horizontal or a vertical configuration.

2. Description of the Related Art

Innumerable holders have been developed over the years for holding fishing rods and other elongate articles. Such holders are typically. permanently installed and are non-removable, although the articles held therein are of course removable. Such conventional holders are also generally configured to hold a series of elongate articles in a linear array, i.e., with all of the articles secured in a single plane. A conventional rack for pool cues is an example of such a linear holder. While this provides easy access to any one of the articles secured within the holder, such a holder requires considerably more room than a holder providing more compact storage of articles therein.

Such conventional racks and holders are not well suited as holders for storing fishing rods in a relatively small boat or the like. One problem with such use is that most such boats are open, with their contents accessible to anyone at any time. While this is not a problem when the boat and/or equipment therein are attended, theft of loose articles from unattended boats, automobiles, pickup truck beds, and other open storage areas can be a major problem. While automobiles and most storage cabinets and sheds can be secured, the typical open boat or pickup truck bed does not provide sufficient secure storage space for elongate articles such as fishing rods. Yet, it is impractical to lock fishing rods or the like to the holder or rack, as their shape generally precludes any efficient locking mechanism and such a locking mechanism would be unduly cumbersome when access to the rods was desired.

Another problem with conventional fishing rod holders is the excessive space required when the rods are secured in a planar array. Such an arrangement is generally unsuitable for installation in a small boat, where there is insufficient space to store a number of fishing rods in a planar array. Yet, the grouping of the rods in a tighter matrix results in most of the rods being difficult to access when stationary storage means is provided. If the use of one of the rods at the back or bottom of the storage device or holder is desired, then at least some of the rods stored to the front or top of the holder must first be removed, and then replaced. Meanwhile, the temporarily removed rods are left lying loose, and subject to damage or loss until they are properly stored again.

Thus, a fishing rod holder solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fishing rod holder includes a base, which is permanently mounted to a support structure (e.g., boat gunwale, etc.). A support strut is removably secured to the base, and supports a pair of spaced apart plates thereon. Each of the plates includes a series of passages therethrough, with one plate having closed passages adapted for the placement of the handles of fishing rods or other elongate articles therein, and the other plate having peripherally open passages for accepting the radial insertion of the thinner rod elements therein. A resilient, slotted disc may be installed in each of the passages of the rod securing plate, with the disc slots oriented radially to accept and hold the rod elements of articles placed therein.

The two plates are secured to one another by a tubular connecting element disposed upon the support strut, with the two plates and the connecting element rotating in unison with one another about the support strut. This allows the plates, and fishing rods or other articles placed therein, to be rotated about the support strut to position the desired rod for ease of removal. The two plates may also be rotated to position an empty rod position for ease of placement of a rod therein.

The support strut, upon which the plates and connecting element rotate, is removably attached the base. A removable pin passes through diametrically opposed passages formed through the receptacle in the base and through the support strut to secure the support strut in the base as desired. When the pin is withdrawn, the attachment end of the support strut may be removed from the base, allowing the support strut with its attached plates, and any fishing rods or other elongate articles stored therein, to be removed and placed in a secure location when necessary. The support strut may have any of a wide variety of shapes to position the rod holding portion relative to the base.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention, showing its installation on the gunwale of a boat.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fishing rod holder of FIG. 1, showing its components and their relationship to one another.

FIG. 3 is an environmental perspective view of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention being used to hold pool cues.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention having a differently configured support strut.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention having another support strut configuration.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention having still another support strut configuration.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention with another support strut configuration.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises a rotary fishing rod holder, i.e., a device for holding a series of fishing rods (or other thin, elongate objects), which enables the user to rotate the device for convenient access to any one of the rods disposed in the holder. The configuration of the device provides for compact installation and for removal of the rod holder assembly from the permanently attached mounting base, thereby permitting secure storage of the holder assembly and rods contained therein when the structure (boat, etc.) to which the base is attached is unattended.

FIG. 1 of the drawings provides an environmental perspective view of a first embodiment of the holder 10 with its base 12 permanently and immovably affixed to a support structure, e.g., the gunwale G of a boat B. The base 12 could also be secured to any other suitable structure as desired, e.g., to one of the thwarts T or to a seat structure in the boat, or alternatively to the conventional upper edge of the cargo box of a pickup truck, etc., to a wall, ceiling, or table in a garage, etc. The device may also be used to hold other elongate articles, e.g., as a holder for pool cues C as shown in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the holder shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 comprises a single embodiment, with the holder and all components comprising the holder being identical to one another in each of the FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 2 provides an exploded perspective view of the holder 10, illustrating the relationship of the various components thereof. The holder 10 comprises a base 12, as noted above, with the base having a mounting flange 14 providing for permanent attachment of the base to a suitable support structure, and a rod support strut holder 16 extending therefrom. The support strut holder 16 defines a support strut receptacle 18 formed therein, with the receptacle 18 preferably comprising an elongate passage extending the length of the holder 16 and mounting flange 14 parallel to the plane of the mounting flange 14. This configuration is easily and economically formed from a short length of properly shaped extrusion, although other shapes and forming methods may be used as desired.

An elongate support strut 20 has a base attachment end 22, which is removably installed within the support strut receptacle 18 of the base 12. The strut 20 is rotationally affixed relative to the base 12 by a transverse pin 24, which is removably inserted through diametrically opposed passages 26 and 28 formed through the base attachment end 22 of the support strut 20 and through the support strut holder 16 of the base 12 transverse to the support strut receptacle 18. The pin 24 preferably includes conventional locking means, e.g., spring loaded, radially protruding balls that resist withdrawal of the pin from its passage with less than a predetermined amount of deliberate force. A lanyard or tether 30 preferably secures the pin 24 to the base 12 or other suitable structure to prevent loss of the pin 24 when removed from the base 12.

A first rod holder plate 32 is installed about the intermediate portion 34 of the rod support strut 20, and is free to rotate thereon by means of a support strut passage 36 formed centrally through the plate 32. A series of rod passages 38 are formed through the rod holder plate 32, preferably distributed radially about the central support strut passage 36 of the plate 32. The rod passages 38 of the first rod holder plate 32 are preferably closed, i.e., the periphery of the plate 32 is continuous about the plate with no gaps, slots, etc. extending between the periphery of the plate 32 and the rod passages 38.

A second rod holder plate 40 is installed about the distal end 42 of the rod support strut 20 spaced apart from the first plate 32, and is free to rotate about the strut 20 by means of a support strut passage 44 formed centrally through the second plate 40. The second rod holder plate 40 includes a plurality of peripherally slotted rod passages 46 formed therethrough, and preferably distributed radially about the central support strut passage 44 of the second plate 40. Each of the peripherally slotted rod passages 46 may have a resilient insert installed therein, discussed in detail further below. The rod passages 46 of the second plate 40 differ from the closed rod passages 38 of the first plate 32, as shown in FIG. 2, by the single rod passage 46 with its insert removed. Each of the second plate rod passages 46 includes a radially extending slot 48, which communicates with the outer periphery of the second plate 40.

The radial slots 48 of the second plate rod passages 46 allow the rod portion R of a fishing rod F to be installed or removed radially from the corresponding passage 46. A rod-retaining disc insert 50 formed of a resilient material may be installed in each of the slotted rod passages 46 of the second plate 40, with each disc 50 having a slot 52 aligned with the radial slot 48 of its passage 46. The resilience of the slotted rod retaining discs 50 allow the disc material to distend or deform temporarily and resiliently as the rod R is pushed or pulled through the slot 52 when the rod R is installed in or removed from its second plate passage 46.

The two rod holder plates 32 and 40 are preferably connected to one another by an elongate tube 54, which is installed concentrically over the support strut 20 between the base attachment end 22 and opposite distal end 42 thereof. The opposite ends of the tube 54 secure respectively within the tube attachment sleeves 56 and 58 of the first and second rod holder plates 32 and 40, the sleeves 56 and 58 defining the support strut passages 36 and 44 of the two plates 32 and 40. The sleeves 56 and 58, and thus the two rod holder plates 32 and 40, are immovably affixed to the tube 54, so that the two plates 32 and 40 are constrained to rotate in unison. When one of the plates 32 or 40 is rotated on the support strut 20, the rotary motion is transmitted to the opposite plate by the plate connection tube 54, thus assuring that both plates 32 and 40 rotate together.

The assembly comprising the first and second rod holder plates 32 and 40 and their connecting tube 54 is secured in place axially along the support strut 20 by a first plate retaining collar 60, which is immovably affixed to the support strut immediately adjacent the first rod holder plate 32 and opposite its connecting tube sleeve 56. The collar 60 is affixed to the strut 20 by a pin 62, which passes through aligned holes 64 through the collar 60 and transverse hole 66 through the strut 20. A second plate retaining cap 68 is affixed to the distal end or tip 42 of the support strut 20 by a pin 70, which is installed through holes or passages 72 and 74 formed through the cap 68 and the distal end 42 or tip of the support strut 20, respectively.

The fishing rod holder 10 is used generally as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, by permanently installing the base 12 in any suitable location. The base attachment end 22 of the support strut 20 is removably installed within the strut support receptacle or passage 18 of the base 12 and secured therein by the removable pin 24 (shown in FIG. 2). One or more fishing rods F may be installed within the passages 38 and 46 of the first and second rod holder plates 32 and 40, by inserting the handle H of the fishing rod axially into the closed passage 38 of the first plate 32 and then pushing the thinner rod portion R radially inwardly through the resilient slot 52 of the retaining disc 50 positioned in the corresponding slotted passage 46 of the second rod holder plate 40. The rotary assembly comprising the first and second plates 32 and 40 and their interconnecting tube 54 may be rotated to position the appropriate rod holder passages 38 and 46 of the two plates 32 and 40 as desired, for the placement of additional fishing rods F in the holder 10 as desired. Removal of one or more rods is accomplished by reversing the above described procedure, i.e., pulling the rod R radially outwardly through the resilient slot 52 of the retaining disc 50 of the second rod holder plate 40, and withdrawing the handle H of the fishing rod axially from the corresponding closed passage 38 of the first rod holder plate 32.

The entire assembly comprising the two plates 32 and 40, their interconnecting tube 54, and the support strut 20, may be quickly and easily removed from the base 12 by withdrawing the retaining pin 24 from the base 12, thus allowing the removable assembly of components 20, 32, 40, and 54 and any fishing rods F secured therein to be removed from the base 12 for storage in a secure location, e.g., hotel or motel room during travel, or in a locked and secure location in the home or in a vehicle, etc., rather than being exposed on or in an open boat or the like where the fishing rods would likely be a desirable target for theft.

The above described fishing rod holder 10 is not limited to holding fishing rods, but may be used to removably secure any compatible elongate article therein. As an example of such, FIG. 3 illustrates the use of the holder 10 for holding a series of pool or billiard cues C therein. Such an installation would typically be within a secure and enclosed structure, e.g., recreation room, etc., where the removability of the rotary assembly and support strut would not be critical. However, the holder 10 still allows the removability of those components, regardless of the location of the installation of the device and the specific type of elongate article stored therein.

In the rod holder embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1 through 3, the distal portion 42 of the support strut 20 is parallel to the base attachment end 22 thereof, but axially offset therefrom due to the single relatively large radius 180° bend forming a hook 76 between the base attachment portion 22 and distal end portion 42 of the rod 22. When the base 12 is secured to a horizontal support surface, as shown in FIG. 1, the distal end portion 42 of strut 20 forms a cantilever arm supporting plates 32 and 40 and connecting tube 54.

It will be obvious that the base 12 may be attached to a wall or other vertical support surface. The base 12 may be attached to a wall adjacent the floor with cantilever arm 42 extending upward, the fishing rods F being retained in holder 10 by the resilient discs 50. Alternatively, the base 12 may be installed adjacent the ceiling with cantilever arm 42 extending downward, the fishing rods F being retained in holder 10 by resilient discs 50, the reels being disposed above plate 32 (the reels have been omitted from FIG. 1 for clarity in the drawings). This permits one base 12 to be permanently installed to the deck or gunwale of a boat to support fishing rods F in a horizontal configuration, and a second base 12 to be mounted to the wall of a garage or other storage structure for storage in a compact vertical configuration, the support strut 20 being detached from one base by removing pin 24 to transfer the rod supporting assembly to the other base 12 without removing fishing rods F from plates 32 and 40.

FIG. 4 of the drawings illustrates a slightly different embodiment rod holder 10 a in which the support strut 20 a includes two relatively small radius 90° bends with a short straight section therebetween, forming a hook 76 a between the distal end portion and the base attachment end thereof. It will be noted that the base attachment end of the strut 20 a is concealed within the support strut receptacle 18 and the distal end portion is concealed within the plate connecting tube 54 in FIG. 4, but those portions of the support strut 20 a are essentially identical to the corresponding components of the strut 20 illustrated in FIG. 2. The distal end portion of strut 20 a again forms a cantilever arm supporting plates 32 and 40 and connecting tube 54 above base 12. The base 12, first rod holder plate 32, and second rod holder plate 40 components of the rod holder embodiment 10 a of FIG. 4 are all essentially identical to those identically numbered components of the embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates another rod holder variation or embodiment 10 b, in which the support strut 20 b has a Z-shaped bend, including a pair of opposite acute angle bends therein. This enables the base attachment end 22 b of the support strut to be inserted into the receptacle of the base 12 from the same side or end thereof as the extended distal end portion of the strut 20 b, with the distal end of strut 20 b forming a cantilever arm supporting the two rod holder plates 32 and 40 and interconnecting tube 54. This permits the base 12 to be installed with one end thereof abutting a bulkhead or other structure, while still allowing the support strut 20 b to be inserted into and withdrawn from the opposite end of the receptacle of the base 12, i.e., the end oriented toward the distal end portion of the strut 20 b when it is installed.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate additional embodiments of the present rod holder, designated as rod holder 10 c in FIG. 6 and 10 d in FIG. 7, which are depicted in a vertical configuration, although it will be obvious that holders 10 c and 10 d may also be used in a horizontal configuration by rotating the drawings 90°. In the embodiment 10 c of FIG. 6, the support strut 20 c is formed with a single 90° bend in its intermediate portion. This angularly displaces the distal portion of the support strut 20 c, with its first and second rod holder plates 32 and 40 and interconnecting tube 54, from the base attachment end of the strut (disposed within the base 12 in FIG. 6). Such a configuration permits the base 12 to be mounted upon a vertical surface with the distal portion of the support strut 20 c oriented horizontally, or for the distal portion of the support strut 20 c to be oriented vertically when the base 12 is mounted upon a horizontal surface. It will be seen that when the device 10 c of FIG. 6 is used as a fishing rod holder, that the reels of the fishing rods will rest atop the first rod holder plate 32 to prevent the rods from falling through the closed rod passages 38 in the plate 32.

The rod holder embodiment 10 d of FIG. 7 is similar to the embodiment 10 c of FIG. 6, in that the distal end portion of the support strut 20 d is angularly offset from the base attachment end portion thereof. However, rather than forming a single 90° bend in the intermediate portion of the support strut 20 d, the intermediate portion 76 d of the support strut 20 d of FIG. 7 has a first 180° bend of relatively wide radius and a second 90° bend of relatively small radius in the opposite direction from the first bend. This positions the axis of the support strut 20 d generally directly above the base 12. Thus, the rod holder 10 d of FIG. 7 could be installed in a relatively narrow vertical area, e.g., between two bulkheads or frames, or in a corner, etc. The rotation of the two rod holder plates 32 and 40 provide access to any fishing rods or other elongate articles stored in the holder 10 d, even where the rod holder device is enclosed about its majority.

In conclusion, the fishing rod holder in its various embodiments greatly facilitates access to and storage of fishing rods and similar elongate articles. The rotary configuration of the multiple rod holding components on the support strut enables the user to rotate the rod collection to position any rod desired to an easy to access position for removal from the holder. Alternatively, the rod holder enables the user to rotate the rod holding portion of the device to orient an empty rod holding position for the removable placement of a rod therein for storage. The rod holding portion, comprising the first and second rod holding plates and the support strut, is easily and quickly removed from the permanently installed base so that the user may transport the rod holding portion and all rods secured therein to a secure location (enclosed motor vehicle, motel room during travel, home or storage shed, etc.), rather than having the device remain in or on an open boat or the like where the rods would be subject to theft. Accordingly, the fishing rod holder will prove to be a most useful and desirable accessory for anglers and others who have need to quickly access one or more of a series of elongate articles and provide for their security.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A fishing rod holder, comprising: a base having a support strut receptacle defined therein; a support strut having a base attachment end inserted within the support strut receptacle of the base, a distal end opposite the base attachment end, and an intermediate portion therebetween; a first rod holder plate having a support strut passage formed generally centrally therethrough and a plurality of closed rod passages defined therethrough, the first plate being rotatably disposed on the support strut adjacent the intermediate portion; a second rod holder plate having a support strut passage formed generally centrally therethrough and a plurality of peripherally slotted rod passages defined therethrough, the second plate being rotatably disposed on the support strut adjacent the distal end thereof; and a connecting tube rotatably disposed on the support strut, the connecting tube being affixed to the first plate and to the second plate and extending therebetween to constrain the first and second plates to rotate in unison.
 2. The fishing rod holder according to claim 1, wherein said base and the base attachment end of said support strut each have a transverse passage defined therein, the holder further comprising a support strut retaining pin removably disposed through the passages in said base and the base attachment end of said support strut in order to removably secure said support strut to said base.
 3. The fishing rod holder according to claim 1, further including a plurality of slotted rod retaining discs formed of resilient material, each disc being disposed within a corresponding one of the peripherally slotted rod passages of said second rod holder plate.
 4. The fishing rod holder according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of said support strut is axially offset from the base attachment end thereof.
 5. The fishing rod holder according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of said support strut is angularly displaced from said base attachment end thereof.
 6. The fishing rod holder according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of said support strut forms a hook, the distal portion of said support strut forming a cantilever arm rotationally supporting said first and second plates and said connecting tube above the base when said base is attached to a horizontally disposed support surface.
 7. A fishing rod holder, comprising: a base having a support strut receptacle defined therein; a support strut having a base attachment end removably inserted within the support strut receptacle of the base, a distal end opposite the base attachment end, and an intermediate portion therebetween; a first rod holder plate having a support strut passage formed generally centrally therethrough and a plurality of closed rod passages defined therein, the first plate being disposed on the support strut adjacent the intermediate portion thereof; a second rod holder plate having a support strut passage formed generally centrally therethrough and a plurality of peripherally slotted rod passages defined therein, the second plate being disposed on the support strut adjacent the distal end thereof.
 8. The fishing rod holder according to claim 7, wherein said base and the base attachment end of said support strut each have a transverse passage defined therein, the holder further comprising a support strut retaining pin removably disposed through the passages in said base and the base attachment end of said support strut in order to removably secure said support strut to said base.
 9. The fishing rod holder according to claim 7, further including a connecting tube rotatably disposed on said support strut, the connecting tube being affixed to said first plate and to said second plate, the connecting tube extending therebetween in order to constrain said first and second plates to rotate in unison.
 10. The fishing rod holder according to claim 7, further including a plurality of slotted rod retaining discs formed of resilient material, the discs being disposed within a corresponding one of the peripherally slotted rod passages of said second rod holder plate.
 11. The fishing rod holder according to claim 7, wherein the distal end of said support strut is axially offset from the base attachment end thereof.
 12. The fishing rod holder according to claim 7, wherein the distal end portion of said support strut is angularly displaced from said base attachment end thereof.
 13. The fishing rod holder according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate portion of said support strut forms a hook, the distal portion of said support strut forming a cantilever arm rotationally supporting said first and second plates and said connecting tube above the base when said base is attached to a horizontally disposed support surface.
 14. A fishing rod holder, comprising: a base having a support strut receptacle defined therein; a support strut having a base attachment end inserted within the support strut receptacle of the base, a non-linear intermediate portion, and a distal end opposite the base attachment end and axially offset therefrom, the distal end forming a cantilever arm above the base when the base is attached to a horizontal support surface; a first rod holder plate having a support strut passage formed generally centrally therethrough and a plurality of closed rod passages defined therethrough, the first plate being disposed on the support strut adjacent the intermediate portion thereof; and a second rod holder plate having a support strut passage formed generally centrally therethrough and a plurality of peripherally slotted rod passages defined therethrough, the second plate being disposed on the support strut adjacent the distal end thereof.
 15. The fishing rod holder according to claim 14, further including a connecting tube rotatably disposed on said support strut, the connecting tube being affixed to said first plate and to said second plate and extending therebetween in order to constrain said first and second plates to rotate in unison.
 16. The fishing rod holder according to claim 14, wherein said base and the base attachment end of said support strut each have a transverse passage defined therein, the holder further comprising a support strut retaining pin removably disposed through the passages in said base and the base attachment end of said support strut in order to removably secure said support strut to said base.
 17. The fishing rod holder according to claim 14, further including a plurality of slotted rod retaining discs formed of resilient material, the discs being disposed within a corresponding one of the peripherally slotted rod passages of said second rod holder plate.
 18. The fishing rod holder according to claim 14, wherein the distal end portion of said support strut is angularly displaced from said base attachment end thereof.
 19. The fishing rod holder according to claim 14, further including a plurality of bends formed in the intermediate portion of said support strut. 